Task Manager Trauma

In Windows XP Professional, my Task Manager has lost the top of the program window. The Applications, Processes, Performance, and Networking tabs are gone, as is the menu. All I can see is the subwindow for the applications. To close the task manager, I must click on it and press Alt-F4. What is wrong, and how can I fix it?

Joe Wabad

You are seeing Task Manager's tiny-footprint mode. Available in Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, 2000, and XP, this mode is invoked by double-clicking in the border around the tabs, and it's quite easy to trigger accidentally. The window can be especially odd-looking if the Performance tab is the only one visible, as the figure shows. To bring back the full Task Manager display, simply double-click in the border again. Now that you know how to turn it on and off, you may find occasions where tiny-footprint mode is useful.

Neil Rubenking served as vice president and president of the San Francisco PC User Group for three years when the IBM PC was brand new. He was present at the formation of the Association of Shareware Professionals, and served on its board of directors. In 1986, PC Magazine brought Neil on board to handle the torrent of Turbo Pascal tips submitted by readers. By 1990, he had become PC Magazine's technical editor, and a coast-to-coast telecommuter. His "User to User" column supplied readers with tips...
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